Marks Psychiatry

Stuttering affects 1% of children before puberty and decreases to 0.8% in adolescence (source Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).  It can be very debilitating for some leading to years of shame and embarrassment.  In 98% of cases the onset of stuttering is before age 10 and research estimates are less specific about recovery estimating 20-80% recover by age 16.  Currently the treatments for stuttering involve behavioral interventions such as speech therapy or a stuttering device.

Until now, there has not been a specific cause that could be attributed to stuttering.  Eun Chang PhD presented new information at the 2007 Annual meeting for the Society for Neuroscience showing that children who stutter have a specific lesion (abnormality) in an area of the brain that connects speech planning and comprehension.  This abnormality can be seen on MRI brain imaging.

I see this finding as very hopeful as it now gives us a focus of attention for developing new treatments for stuttering in lieu of speech therapy or a stuttering device.  As I previously mentioned, many cases of stuttering resolve, however for those that don’t, the consequences can be life-altering.  For example, some adults who continue to stutter can develop social phobia.  Perhaps more on this in a future post…

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